Deccan Chronicle 20.01.2010

Joined-cellars to beat space crunch

Hyderabad, Jan. 19: The combined and continuous parking concept may soon be a reality in Hyderabad if owners of complexes agree to the HMDA proposal. The new master plan for core city allows two different owners or builders constructing two different buildings to combine their stilt or cellar to create common parking area.

Town planners and urban developers say combined and continuous parking will enhance the parking area and contains traffic congestion owing to fewer number of entry and exit gates.

What’s more, buildings separated by a road can have a combined parking area by constructing a sub-way under the road. In such a scenario, even the road area below the ground can be used for parking.

The HMDA director (Planning), Mr A.V. Bhide, said the cost of sub-way and combining the parking area would have to be borne by the builders. “It is just a proposal that has been incorporated in the master plan and a final decision of retaining it will be taken based on the objections and suggestions from people,” he said.

Mr N.V. Ramana Rao, JNTU professor and expert in structural stability engineering, said the government should offer a plethora of incentives to promote such concept. “No, doubt, there is space crunch in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, but for people to come together for a combined parking, there must be some incentive,” he said.

The government should also promote construction of two to three levels for parking in each building, he said.

The AP Builders Forum president, Mr C. Shekar Reddy, welcomed the concept and said clear-cut benefits should be announced for the owners or builders taking up the new concept.